Sen. John Nelson, a veteran politician and longtime legislator, abruptly announced today that he is retiring from public service and is dropping his bid for re-election.
Nelson’s decision paves the way for Sen. Don Shooter, R-Yuma, to secure the Senate seat in Legislative District 13.

Mesa businessman Bob Worsley has far outraised his primary opponent, former Senate President Russell Pearce, taking in about $67,000 in contributions during the first five months of the year.
Pearce, meanwhile, collected a mere $2,800 during the same period, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
The deadline to file the reports was July 2, and they reflect campaign finances through May 31.

There was no shortage of complaining about giving the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission additional money to pay its legal obligations, but Republican senators ultimately opted to provide the funding.
By doing so, lawmakers avoid a potentially drawn-out legal battle, which would have cost both sides more money.

Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee made things as unpleasant as they could for proponents of Gov. Jan Brewer’s personnel system overhaul, but the plan came another step closer to fruition after the panel approved HB2571 on a party line vote.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will take up the governor’s proposal to overhaul the state’s merit system tomorrow.
The proposal, which is her top priority for the legislative session, would essentially make it easier to fire state employees.

A bill that would protect Arizona State Parks revenue from legislative sweeps skipped over the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, taking it one step closer to becoming law.
HB 2362, authored by Rep. Karen Fann, R–Prescott, has received House approval and an endorsement from the Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee.